Enchantress Blog Tour: Review

Enchantress: A Novel of Rav Hisda's Daughter (Rav Hisda's Daughter #2)
Author: Maggie Anton 
Genre: Historical Fiction/Historical Fantasy
Publication Date: September 2, 2014
Publisher: Plume
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 400

Description:

Fantastic tales of demons and the Evil Eye, magical incantations, and powerful attractions abound in Enchantress, a novel that weaves together Talmudic lore, ancient Jewish magic, and a timeless love story set in fourth-century Babylonia.

One of the most powerful practitioners of these mysterious arts is Rav Hisda’s daughter, whose innate awareness allows her to possess the skills men lack. With her husband, Rava--whose arcane knowledge of the secret Torah enables him to create a "man” out of earth and to resurrect another rabbi from death--the two brave an evil sorceress, Ashmedai the Demon King, and even the Angel of Death in their quest to safeguard their people, even while putting their romance at risk.

The author of the acclaimed Rashi’s Daughters series and the award-winning Rav Hisda’s Daughter: Apprentice has conjured literary magic in the land where "abracadabra” originated. Based on five years of research and populated with characters from the Talmud, Enchantress brings a pivotal era of Jewish and Christian history to life from the perspective of a courageous and passionate woman.

Praise for Apprentice (Rav Hisda's Daughter: Book I):

“A lushly detailed look into a fascinatingly unknown time and culture—a tale of Talmud, sorcery, and a most engaging heroine!” —Diana Gabaldon, author of the bestselling Outlander series

Anton, the author of the acclaimed “Rashi’s Daughters” trilogy, has penned her best book to date. Using her extensive knowledge of the Talmud and other historical Jewish writings, she immersed herself in the tractates to uncover a marvelous heroine for this historical novel… Complex discussions of Jewish law and tradition as well as detailed description of the culture and customs of the times enhance truly wonderful storytelling. VERDICT This absorbing novel should be on everyone’s historical fiction reading list." —Library Journal (starred review)

“Fascinating reading await those who dive into the vividly depicted world of Babylonian Jewry … Anton succeeds brilliantly in drawing us into the formative period leading up to the Talmud … what we have is the work of a master craftswoman set upon repairing a major gap in Jewish literature —Philadelphia Jewish Voice

“Rav Hisda’s Daughter provides a wealth of historical detail about Jewish life in Babylon and Israel in the 3rd century CE. It depicts the daily life and coming of age of a prominent rabbi’s daughter rather than propelling its reader through a traditional arc of action with a crisis and resolution. Its interest lies in its portrayal of the sorcery, incantations, and women’s customs in this exotic, faraway period of time and place, sometimes against the backdrop of war.” —Historical Novel Society

Praise for the Rashi's Daughters Trilogy:

“Anton delivers a tour de force . . . [Readers] will fly through the pages and come away wishing for more.” –Library Journal (starred review)

“A compelling combination of drama, suspense, and romance.” –Lilith magazine

Enchantress is the beautifully told second book in the Rashi's Daughters Trilogy. The book tells the story of Hisdadukh - Rav Hisda's daughter - and her husband, Rava, along with their experiences with magic, the occult, and encounters with supernatural beings. Hisdadukh is a fascinating main character for the book and I immediately connected with her. The book is told from her point of view, so we get to see more of her character than with other points of view. The reader is able to get a more clear picture of who she is - her fears, desires, emotions, and innermost thoughts. Along with the overall narrative of the story, the character of Hisdadukh really comes alive. She's brave, incredibly smart, and a powerful woman of magic. I loved getting to know her on a personal level and to experience the story beside her. Rava, her husband, is also an important character in the novel. He and Hisdadukh share a deep love for one another that's a big part of the book. Their love is constantly tested by all types of situations - magical and normal alike. I really enjoyed watching their relationship together and how strong their bond was. The plot was absolutely mesmerizing - nothing short of magnificent. The author weaves together so many fascinating concepts - magic, Jewish lore, demons, angels, and the occult - that I was in awe throughout the entire book. These topics have always fascinated me, so I found myself totally immersed in all the supernatural aspects throughout the story. Knowing that the author did a lot of research for the book, I was even more enthralled with the tales in the book and the different encounters and situations that Hisdadukh and Rava found themselves in. The writing was beautifully done - it has a completely natural flow that pulls the reader into the story and doesn't let go until the final words. The descriptions and imagery were so vivid and detailed that I felt like I could shut my eyes and experience the story beside the characters. Everything about the novel - from the setting of Babylonia to the distinct personalities of the characters and the detailed accounts of magic - were magnificent and enthralling. I very highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, as well as those who enjoy stories of magic and the occult, and readers who are looking for a beautifully written novel unlike anything else out there.

Maggie Anton was born Margaret Antonofsky in Los Angeles, California. Raised in a secular, socialist household, she reached adulthood with little knowledge of her Jewish religion. All that changed when David Parkhurst, who was to become her husband, entered her life, and they both discovered Judaism as adults. That was the start of a lifetime of Jewish education, synagogue involvement, and ritual observance. In 2006, Anton retired from being a clinical chemist in Kaiser Permanente's Biochemical Genetics Laboratory to become a fulltime writer.

In the early 1990's, Anton learned about a women's Talmud class taught by Rachel Adler, now a professor at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. She became intrigued with the idea that Rashi, one of the greatest Jewish scholars ever, had no sons, only three daughters. Slowly but surely, she began to research the family and the time in which they lived. Much was written about Rashi, but almost nothing of the daughters, except their names and the names of their husbands. Legend has it that Rashi's daughters were learned in a time when women were traditionally forbidden to study the sacred texts. These forgotten women seemed ripe for rediscovery, and the idea of a trilogy of historical novels about them was born.

After the success of "Rashi's Daughters" Anton started researching the lives of women in 4th-century Babylonia, where the Talmud was being created. Surprised by the prevalence of sorcery among rabbinic families, she wrote "Rav Hisda's Daughter: Bk 1 - Apprentice," which was a 2012 National Jewish Book Award Fiction finalist and a Library Journal pick for Best Historical Fiction.

For more information please visit Maggie Anton's website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
 

Enchantress Blog Tour Schedule:

Monday, October 6
Review at Unshelfish
Review at Book Drunkard

Tuesday, October 7
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Wednesday, October 8
Review at A Dream Within a Dream

Thursday, October 8
Guest Post at Bookish

Friday, October 9
Guest Post & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Monday, October 13
Review at Book Lovers Paradise

Tuesday, October 14
Review at leeanna.me
Spotlight & Giveaway at Words and Peace

Wednesday, October 15
Review at Based on a True Story

Thursday, October 16
Review at Mari Reads

Friday, October 17
Interview at Layered Pages

Tuesday, October 21
Review at History From A Woman's Perspective
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews

Wednesday, October 22
Guest Post at History From A Woman's Perspective

Thursday, October 23
Review at Layered Pages
Spotlight at A Book Geek

Friday, October 24
Review at Beth's Book Reviews
Interview at Mina's Bookshelf

Saturday, October 25
Review & Interview at A Cup of Tea &A Big Book

Monday, October 27
Review at TeacherWriter

Tuesday, October 28
Review at My Book Addiction and More
Spotlight at Historical Tapestry

Wednesday, October 29
Review at A Bookish Affair

Thursday, October 30
Review at Book Nerd

Why Can't I Be You Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

Why Can't I Be You
Author: Allie Larkin
Genre: Women's Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: February 26, 2013
Publisher: Plume

Book Links:
Penguin
Barnes and Noble
Indie Bound
Amazon

Description:


WHY CAN’T I BE YOU takes its name from a 1987 hit song from English rock band The Cure. All her life, Jenny Shaw toed the line, striving to be the perfect colleague, girlfriend, and daughter – a path that has led her to an unhappy (though successful) career, a failed relationship, and all-but-severed family ties. On her way to the airport for her first business trip, she is unceremoniously dumped by the man she thought she would one day marry. In her haze of shock and confusion, she responds to the wrong name when Myra Aberly, organizer of Seattle’s Mt. Si class of 1999’s thirteenth high-school reunion, shouts “Jessie!” across the hotel lobby.

In an instant, Jenny Shaw becomes Jessie Morgan, a woman to whom she bears an uncanny resemblance. She is immediately embraced by Jessie’s warm circle of friends – and gains a possible love interest. But when Jenny becomes more and more curious about Jessie’s history, she uncovers a trail of secrets, pain and deceit that inspires her to uncover the truth that will heal her own painful past.

Have you ever wanted to leave the old you behind and start a new life? Have you ever thought about pretending to be someone else - even just for a little while - because your real life is so pathetic and boring? That's what happens when Jenny Shaw finds herself recently dumped, out of town for a business trip, and mistakenly identified as a long lost friend at a high school reunion. Jenny embraces the identity mishap and embodies the person she envisions her look-alike - Jessie Morgan - to be. What happens after that is funny, unexpected, and might be exactly what Jenny had been yearning for all along.

This was a fun, witty book that embodies that age old question and thought that circles everyone's mind - what would you do if you could be someone else? Jenny's escapades as Jessie are interesting and introspective at the same time. The writing was easy and conversational, which immediately sucked me into the book. I loved Jenny as the main character - her personality and witty inner dialogue instantly endeared her to me and I connected immediately with her on several levels. Her snarky attitude and humor mimic everyday concerns and ideas, so much that it felt like she was reading my mind at times. She is a realistic character - she's flawed and she knows it - and she also has to deal with everyday problems like healing a broken heart, a demanding alcoholic mother, bossy best friend, and the death of her dreams from years before. Not only is this a fun and charming novel, but it's one that makes you really think about the person you are, the person you once were, and the one you wish you could be. There are moments of clarity and insight mixed in with the snippy dialogue and comedic happenings throughout the story. The writing is expertly done in a way that ensnares the reader right from the beginning and will stay with them long after the book is done. Highly recommended for fans of women's fiction and humor novels.

Allie Larkin is the internationally bestselling author of the novel Stay, and the upcoming novel Why Can’t I Be You (2013). She lives with her husband, Jeremy, their two German Shepherds, Argo and Stella, and a three-legged cat. 

Author Social Media links:
WEBSITE: http://allielarkinwrites.com/ 
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allie-Larkin-Writes/116227021725680 
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/allielarkin


  

 Giveaway: (5) Print copies of WHY CAN'T I BE YOU - Open to residents of US/CAN only.

 

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